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Australia aims to tempt UK medics
Published on: Fri, 19 Aug 2005 12:00:00 GMT
Australian government officials are launching a drive to tempt UK junior doctors to work there. Hundreds of UK junior doctors have struggled to find training places in the latest recruitment round, putting their careers on hold.
The problem has prompted Australian recruiters to target young medics, the British Medical Association magazine BMA News reported.
Doctors' leaders said Australia's gain would be the UK's loss.
Junior doctors have struggled to find work in the NHS because of intense demand for middle-grade positions known as senior house officers - some posts attracted 1,000 applicants.
"Given the unprecedented competition for training jobs at the moment, it's not surprising that Australian authorities are already planning to recruit British-trained doctors"
Dr Simon Eccles, of the British Medical Association
Those who have not found jobs have had to do locum work, which does not count towards becoming a hospital doctor or GP, or even accept work outside the medical profession.
Earlier this week Australia appealed for 20,000 skilled migrants to help work as electricians, carpenters, accountants, bricklayers and chefs as well as doctors.
And now officials said they were hoping to attract up to 3,000 young doctors.
Scott Oster, a business and migration development officer for the state of South Australia , said: "Recently we have been receiving reports from the UK about the difficulty doctors have in finding positions in hospital.
"The state government has decided to make a concerted effort to recruit those doctors and give them a better chance of furthering their careers."
The country is planning to send experts to the Opportunities Australia Expo in London in October.
Dr Simon Eccles, chairman of the BMA's junior doctors committee, said: "Our research shows that most junior doctors would consider leaving the country if, in future, they were unable to find an appropriate training post.
"Given the unprecedented competition for training jobs at the moment, it's not surprising that Australian authorities are already planning to recruit British-trained doctors.
"Unfortunately, Australia's gain is our loss.
"The irony is that Britain is desperately short of medical staff.
"If we don't improve our workforce planning, it's inevitable that many more doctors will head overseas."
A Department of Health spokeswoman said it was quite common for junior doctors to work abroad during their training.
"Australia and New Zealand are favourite destinations. Doctors tend to be made very welcome, are well supervised and well trained.
"The majority who go abroad come back to England to continue their careers in the NHS, enriched by their overseas experiences."
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